Master Chajang, coming from a royal family, could have advanced well in the court; instead he chose to be a monk. The king, appreciating his abilities, pressured him to accept a court position, which he refused. In exasperation, the king threatened the monk with the death penalty if he refused again. Master Chajang calmly replied, Ħ°I would rather die keeping the laws of the Buddha for one day than live for one hundred years breaking them.ĦħSeeing the wisdom of this reply, the king permitted  Master Chajang to continue his monk's life.

Before entering the temple compound, the visitor has to pass over the windless bridge which leads into a forest of windless pines. Most temples have a bridge - often over a wonderful rushing torrent - before the gates to the compound. This is a symbolic purification of the individual as he or she passes from the secular world into the spiritual world.

The Main Hall at T'ongdosa Temple, was reconstructed in 1601 in the reign of King Sonjo. It is unique in that it has no statue, only a window looking out onto a stupa. The ceiling of the hall is especially marvelous as it is covered with a beautifully executed pattern of chrysanthemums.

Behind the Main Hall are the Diamond Stairs which lead upto a platform containing the bell-shaped stupa. It is believed to enshrine the relics of the Buddha which Master Chajang brought from China and is therefore the focal point of the temple. As the stupa contains relics of the Buddha, it  represents the Buddha and so there is no need for a statue in the Main Hall as well. 

Pagodas developed from stupas, which were used to represent the presence of the Buddha after his death because they enshrined his remains. After the Buddha was cremated, his remains were divided between the eight different kings who had been his followers during his lifetime and each king builta stupa. As time went by, they were used to enshrine the remains of great monks as well. In China, the stupa evolved into a pagoda which also took on different forms. Today, you can see pudo, bell-shaped pagodas, many-storied pagodas and simple, few-storied pagodas, all varying in shape, design and decoration. 

Of special interest are the museum which contains many precious ancient objects; the memorial shrine to Chajang builtin 1727; and the Great Hall of Light. This last is a hall dedicated to Vairocana Buddha and was constructed 600 years ago; it isreputed to be the oldest in Korea. 

Of note is the lovely Nine Dragon Pond. Originally it was very large and nine dragons lived in it. However, after some time it was reduced in size and now the monks who live in the temple believe there is only one resident dragon which never comes out... 


T'ongdosa Temple TEL : (0523)82-7182

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